diff --git a/lib/cmdlib.py b/lib/cmdlib.py
index 3d61d9d03097df0196719d73d04965160a72ef45..543519013456fd7009577ec39ae4b696aaa4533d 100644
--- a/lib/cmdlib.py
+++ b/lib/cmdlib.py
@@ -704,7 +704,8 @@ class LUVerifyCluster(NoHooksLU):
           bad = True
 
     if not instanceconfig.status == 'down':
-      if not instance in node_instance[node_current]:
+      if (node_current not in node_instance or
+          not instance in node_instance[node_current]):
         feedback_fn("  - ERROR: instance %s not running on node %s" %
                         (instance, node_current))
         bad = True